Richard Blackwood has admitted he can understand why his former co-star Ricky Norwood is struggling to keep his cool in the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house

Richard Blackwood "feels sorry" for his friend Ricky Norwood having to share the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house with "fools".

The 'EastEnders' star can understand why his former co-star is losing his patience with his younger housemates - Marnie Simpson, Stephen Bear, Chloe Khan and Lewis Bloor - in the famous abode because he can see they're going to regret their behaviour in five years' time when their TV careers crumble but they won't listen to his advice.

Speaking on 'Loose Women' on Friday (12.08.16), he said: "I'm watching 'Big Brother' and I really feel sorry for Ricky. Ricky's my friend and I know Ricky is looking at them like, 'You don't get it. In five years time you're gonna look back and wonder why nobody wants to book you.'

"When you are famous and all of sudden you're not famous, that is the tough reality. I feel embarrassed. TV isn't gonna stop them because it's good for ratings. They're going to continue to let them make a fool of themselves ..."

And the 44-year-old actor knows exactly how that feels as he was "blacklisted" 14 years ago when he went bankrupt.

He explained: "[Because] I went bankrupt, and bankruptcy then wasn't... Back then you were blacklisted and nobody wanted to touch you. I was one of the first people to go bankrupt in terms of 'in the scene', and my phone just stopped working. No one wanted to use me."

However, Richard got his big break 18 months ago when 'EastEnders' bosses cast him as bad boy Vincent Hubbard in the long-running BBC One soap.

He said: "It has changed my life. I love the cast. Everyone is just so welcoming. This is just about work, everyone is very humble."